Prescribed Burns Due for Plymouth Forest This Spring

firePLYMOUTH – Smoke may be seen or smelled coming from the east entrance to Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth this spring.

The National Park Service, firefighters with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and others will execute prescribed burns on a 50-acre property of Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge near the Patriot Properties and Wildcat Lane.

The operations will take place Wednesdays through Sundays throughout the spring, officials said.

Officials said the burns will prevent buildup of leaf litter, dead wood and other materials which can act as fuel for larger wildfires in the dry season.

Fire breaks were constructed last year ahead of these burns for added safety.

Officials said the importance of these small burns is evidenced by the town’s history with wildfires.

A wildfire in Pine Hills in 1937 killed two firefighters. Another in 1995 came close to destroying over 100 homes near Bourne Road.

Trained wildland firefighters will not perform the burns if they believe smoke will be blown towards homes.

The native pitch pine oak and Northern red-bellied cooter (an aquatic turtle) are also expected to benefit from the operation.

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